台湾西南部优势竹类箣竹根力之研究

箣竹为台湾西南部泥岩地区早期主要造林树种,约占该地区绿蔽率之80%,形成极优势之植物。近年来因竹材价格低落,竹林之经营管理减少,其更新造林及其对坡面之保育功能之评价渐受重视。因此本研究为针对箣竹其根力特性,特进行根系与根域范围调查、根段拉力与植株引拔试验等,推估其坡面保育功效。研究结果为箣竹之根段拉力强度(Y)与其直径(X)成指数正相关,而箣竹之引拔抗力(F)与其胸高直径(D)成指数正相关。     

Determination of Feeder Cell‐Based Cellular Niches Supporting the Colonization and Maintenance of Spermatogonial Stem Cells from Prepubertal Domestic Cat Testes

Recently, isolation and in vitro culture of putative spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the domestic cat have been conducted. However, the cellular niche conditions that facilitate the establishment and long‐term maintenance of feline SSCs (FSSCs) have not been described. Therefore, we investigated the type of feeder cells used to stimulate colony formation and growth of FSSCs among the various factors in the FSSC niche. Spermatogonial stem cells isolated from feline testes were cultured on mitotically inactivated testicular stromal cells (TSCs) derived from cats, dogs and mice, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The formation and growth of colonies derived from SSCs cultured on each type of feeder cell were identified at passage 0, and the morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes in surviving colonies were investigated at passage 4. Among these diverse feeder cells, TSCs from cat showed the greatest colony formation, growth and maintenance of FSSCs, and SSC colonies cultured by passage 4 showed a typical dome‐shaped morphology, AP activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and CD9). Accordingly, these results demonstrate that feline TSCs could be used as feeder cells to support the establishment and maintenance of SSCs from domestic cats.     

Urethral Extension for Correction of Urovagina in Cattle A Review of 14 Cases

Urethral extension was performed in 14 cows with clinical urovagina and infertility. Urovagina was corrected in nine cows (64%) and was reduced in the others. Formation of fistulas at the cranial end of the extension site was the most frequent complication (4 cows). In one cow, the urethral extension was not extended far enough caudally. Eleven cows (79%) returned to fertility after surgery. Severity of urine pooling, cranial displacement of the urethral orifice, and severe preoperative vaginitis may explain the failure of the urethral extension in some cows.     

松苗立枯病的研究Ⅰ、分布损失、征状类型、病原、和栽培影响

松苗立枯病是东北地区针叶树育苗上的重要问题,其中以落叶松、樟子松、和红松等幼苗发病较重,油松和赤松等幼苗发病为轻。幼苗发病征状有土内腐死、猝倒、立枯、地上腐烂、和一、二年生大苗发生枯萎落叶等五个类型。诱致松苗发生侵染性立枯病的病菌,有 Rhizoctonia、Pythium 和 Fusarium等三种菌类,其中 Rhizoctonia 尤为主要。松苗立枯病发生的轻重与育苗措施有密切关系,地势低洼或位于山脚下坡的苗圃或苗床,一般发病较重。种子经雪藏混砂催芽处理后,能提早种子萌芽、出土和齐苗,有降低发病程度的作用。光照多少对幼苗发病有影响。根据苗圃的调查观察,全光育苗发病率低,遮蔭育苗发病率高;但在沈阳试验结果还不能证实这一点,相反的半遮蔭育苗要好些。     

广州地区豌豆黄顶病和武汉地区蚕豆黄顶病的病原病毒初步鉴定

广州地区豌豆黃顶病每年在11月开始发生,发病率一般很低,但个別田块可达50％以上。病株頂部叶片黄化,縮小,皺縮卷曲,叶质脆,植株矮縮,不开花結莢,最后发生丛枝現象,植株很快枯死。武汉地区蚕豆黄頂病每年在苗期(11月)开始发生,发病率約1—5％,翌年4、5月流行,发病率輕的为5—10％,重的达80—100％。症状和广州地区的豌豆黄頂病基本相同。     

Radial growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinnamomum kanehirae</Emphasis> Hayata displays a larger temperature sensitivity in dominant than codominant trees

Key message

The radial wood growth curves of Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata (an endangered species of subtropical Taiwan) exhibit an S shape. The dominant trees displayed a larger radial growth than the codominant trees, and their growth was more sensitive to air temperature.

Context

Knowledge of wood radial growth is important for evaluating the factors that limit tree growth performance. The relevant experiments have mostly been conducted in cold and temperate ecosystems, but rarely in subtropical ecosystems.

Aims

In this study, we aimed to construct a unified radial growth model for Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata and to identify its sensitivity to temperature.

Methods

The wood radial increments were quantified for 3 years by either pinning or microcoring. The radial wood growth curves were modelled integratively by semiparametric regression and individually by curve fitting. The effects of tree social class, interannual and environmental factors on radial growth were analysed quantitatively.

Results

A unified S-shaped growth model for C. kanehirae was successfully constructed. By including the social class effect, the model was significantly improved. The maximum radial increment (A) was significantly correlated with the maximum growth rate (μ); both A and μ were significantly higher in dominant than in codominant trees. The time-varying radial growth rate was more sensitive to air temperature in dominant than in codominant trees.

Conclusion

Semiparametric models revealed an S-shaped growth curve of C. kanehirae and confirmed the higher temperature sensitivity of dominant trees compared to codominant trees in humid subtropical areas.

     

The effect of individual liveweight and use of teaser rams prior to mating on the reproductive performance of ewe hoggets

AIM: To determine the effects of liveweight (LW) and use of teaser rams prior to mating on both the mating performance and pregnancy rate of ewe hoggets.

METHODS: Romney hoggets (n=841) were weighed and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups; either exposed to seven harnessed, vasectomised (teaser) rams for 17 days prior to the breeding period (n=283); or not exposed to teaser rams (unteased, n=558). Harnessed Perendale rams were then introduced for two oestrous cycles. Using crayon marks, hoggets were identified as having been mated during the first 17 days only, during the second 17 days only, during both periods, or not mated. All mated hoggets were then scanned for pregnancy using ultrasound, 48 days after the end of the breeding period, and identified as being either non-pregnant, or as single-, twinor triplet-bearing.

RESULTS: Hoggets mated in either the first 17 days only or in both the first and second 17-day periods were heavier than those mated in the second period only (p<0.001). Those mated in the first or second 17-day period only, and those mated in both periods were all heavier prior to mating than those not mated at all (p<0.001). Twin-bearing hoggets were heavier than both their single-bearing and non-pregnant counterparts (p<0.001). A greater proportion of the teased hoggets were mated in the first 17 days only compared with unteased hoggets (62.6 vs 32.1%; p<0.001). In contrast, more of the unteased hoggets were marked in the second 17-day period only (p<0.001). A greater proportion of mated, unteased hoggets were found to be non-pregnant in comparison to their teased counterparts (17.8 vs 11.2%; p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Heavier hoggets at breeding were more likely to be mated in the first 17 days of the breeding period and more likely to be twin-bearing. Use of teaser rams for 17 days prior to the breeding period increased the proportion of hoggets mated in the first 17 days, increased conception rates, and thus increased the proportion of pregnant hoggets. These results indicate that farmers should utilise teasers for 17 days prior to commencement of the breeding period and avoid mating hoggets that weigh below 36 kg.     

张北县农业可持续发展对策研究

通过对张北县土地利用现状的调研与评价及其农业中存在问题的分析,提出了该地区农业可持续发展的对策,对促进土地综合整治、农业结构调整与优化以及国民经济持续发展具有重要的现实意义。     

Application and determination of organic polymers

In water and waste treatment, cationic polyelectrolytes can function as either primary coagulant or coagulant aid because they are positively charged. It has been known that most of the colloidal and suspended impurities in natural water have negative surface charges. Cationic polyelectrolyte will neutralize the impurities or pollutants, then agglomerate them into larger masses for rapid solid-water separation by sedimentation, flotation, centrifugation, filtration, or reverse osmosis. Anionic polyelectrolyte are negatively charged and function as coagulants in water and waste treatment. They must be applied along with positively charged coagulants which neutralizes the negative charge on the colloidal and suspended impurities. In a water softening process, where precipitation particles are positively charged, however, anionic polyelectrolytes alone can coagulate. Nonionic organic polymers, however, can only function as coagulant aids which should be introduced at a point shortly after flocculation first occurs. Nonionic polymers will coat the existing floc particles so that when the flocs collide, they will adhere to one another, thus forming larger and heavier masses. This paper initially describes the various applications of organic polymers in the fields of environmental, chemical and biomedical engineering. Subsequently a new technique for the accurate, quantitative determination of polyelectrolytes in the 0.00002 N to 0.005 N concentration range is introduced. The principles, apparatus, reagents, and analytical procedures of the method are presented in detail. The test procedure developed can also measure the net charges of colloidal substances, this can be used for chemical coagulation process control.